Tool mounting prosthetic device



Jan. 20, 1970 c. N. PEREZ, JR 3,499,078

TOOL MOUNTING PROSTHETIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 1'7, 196'? FIQQ INVENTOR. 0/9484 55 V. PEEEZZ, c/E.

United States Patent 3,490,078 TOOL MOUNTING PROSTHETIC DEVICE Charles N. Perez, Jr., 1919 th Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 Filed Nov. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 683,946 Int. Cl. A61f 1/06 US. Cl. 312.8 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A prosthetic device for attachment to a forearm stump, said device comprising a laceable sleeve to embrace the stump; a solid forepiece engaging the stump and filling the forward end of a sleeve; a cup surrounding said sleeve and said forepiece and having an inwardly directed annular rim; a member clamped between the forepiece and said rim, said member having a tubular threaded socket for engagement with a variety of tools, each tool having a threaded stud at the end of the handle for engagement with said socket.

In prosthetic devices, for attachment to a forearm stump, attention largely has been paid to attempts to duplicate in one or more particulars the mechanics of a human hand and many devices of varying cost and com plexity have been developed to that end. Some of these are highly effective for certain specialized uses but apart from the classic hook, little or no attention has been paid to alleviation of the plight of the unskilled laborer who in his ordinary line of work uses his hands for the simple purpose of gripping the handle of a simple tool.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive prosthesis attachable to the stump of a forearm and including means whereby a variety of simple tools may readily be applied to and removed from the device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a prosthesis as aforesaid which, when not used as a tool holder, remains sightly and unobtrusive.

The above and other objects will be made clear from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved prosthesis ready for attachment to a forearm stump and in which an ordinary claw hammer has been mounted for use;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a knife as an alternative tool designed for attachment to the prosthesis.

In FIGURE 1, the prosthesis is designated generally by the numeral 10 and comprises a leather sleeve 12 having a cutaway portion 14 equipped with the usual tongue 16, the cutaway portion 14 being equipped on each side with eyelets 18 through which are passed adjusting laces 20. At the forward end of the sleeve 12 there is fitted a forepiece 22 which presses against the stump (not shown). A collar 24 is provided with a cylindrical skirt 26 and an inwardly directed annular flange. The skirt 26 serves to clamp the sleeve 12 to the forepiece 22 and a pair of reinforcing arms 28 and 30 extend rearwardly from the collar 24, along sleeve 12 and are conventionally riveted to the sleeve 12.

It will be noted that the forepiece 22 has a flattened front end 32 against which bears the annular flange 34 of a socket member 36. The member 36 has an inner central bore 38 in which is formed conventional threads. The flange 34 of the member 36 is secured to the inner annular flange of the cup 24 by means of screws 40.

A tool generally designated by the numeral 42 has a conventional claw hammer head 44 into which is fitted a handle 46. At its opposite end the handle 46 has a threaded portion 48 with reduced diameter and adjacent that a further threaded stud 50, the threads of which mate with those of the bore 38. A lock nut 52 is threaded to the portion 48 and engages a member 36 in lock nut relationship. Preferably, but not necessarily, the. threads on portions 48 and 50 are of slightly different pitch which increases the locking effect. For example, the. threads of portion 50 may be U.S.S., while those of portion 48 may be S.A.E.

Purely by way of illustration, there is shown in FIG- URE 4 a knife having a handle portion 62 which terminates in a threaded portion 48 and a similar threaded stud 50. Optionally, in this case a pair of lock nuts 52 are mounted on the portion 48 and the stud 50 is screwed into member 36 precisely as was the hammer 42. Among other appropriate tools which might be used when similarly equipped and adopted are mallets, screwdrivers, hatchets, tobacco cutters, machettes, handsaws and similar instruments. This particular prosthesis, therefore, unlike all of its contemporaries, makes no effort toward complicated and therefore expensive mechanism to simulate one or two functions of the human hand. It is purely and simply a tool holder but it accommodates a variety of tools all usable within the experience of the unskilled laborer and therefore adaptable to his particular needs at minimum cost.

What is claimed is:

1. A prosthesis for attachment to a forearm stump, said prosthesis comprising: a sleeve of flexible material to embrace the stump; a forepiece at the forward end of the sleeve to engage the stump end; cup-shaped means clamping the sleeve to the forepiece, said cup means having an annular rim; a socket member clamped between said rim and said forepiece, said socket member having aforward facing threaded passage for engagement with the mating threads of studs on a variety of tools.

2. A prosthesis as set forth in claim 1, in which said sleeve is provided with lacing to adjustably clamp a forearm stump.

3. A prosthesis as set forth in claim 1, in which said cup-shaped means includes reinforcing strips extending on opposite sides of the sleeve and being secured thereto.

4. A prosthesis as set forth in claim 1, including fastening means passing between a flange on said socket member and the rim of said cup-shaped means.

5. A prosthesis as set forth in claim 1, including a hand tool having a handle, a pair of threaded studs extending from the gripping end of said handle, the outermost stud having a lesser diameter than the innermost stud and engaging said socket member, and a lock nut on the outermost stud bearing against the end of said socket member.

6. A prosthgsis as set forth in claim 5, in which the threads of said studs are of mutually different pitch.

References Cited 1,740,230 12/1929 Dorrance 312.8 2,561,523 7/1951 LUX -2 3--12.4

FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 21,591 1914 Great Britain.

Anderson et al 3l2 3 RICHARD A, GAUDET, Primary Examiner Throckmorwn 279101 R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner McKay 312.8 XR Smith 279 100 10 Armstrong 312.2 312.4; 279-100; 306-3O Mantel 312.8 XR 

